LORAIN, Ohio — A Lorain man is facing multiple murder charges in connection with an April 11 shooting that left two people dead, including his own brother, in a parking lot on Tower Boulevard.
Willie Damarr Gaddy Jr., 21, of Florida Avenue, has been indicted on eight felony counts by a Lorain County grand jury. The charges include one count of aggravated murder, five counts of murder, and two counts of felonious assault.
The incident took place in the parking lot of a retail plaza located at 1139 Tower Boulevard. Police responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 5 p.m. and located two individuals suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. One victim, 21-year-old Larry Joe Moore Jr. of Lorain, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second, 17-year-old Jayzeir Gaddy of Avon, was transported to a nearby hospital and later flown to a Cleveland trauma center, where he died.
The indictment alleges that Willie Gaddy Jr. caused Moore’s death through a violent act and that the death of Jayzeir Gaddy resulted from the same conduct. Prosecutors have filed multiple counts of murder to reflect different legal theories under Ohio law, including charges that allow for a homicide to be prosecuted if it occurs as a result of committing a separate felony.
All charges include firearm and forfeiture specifications. Court filings indicate that a Taurus G3C 9 mm handgun was recovered in connection with the case. If convicted of the firearm specifications, additional mandatory prison time may be applied under Ohio’s sentencing guidelines.
Court records show that Gaddy Jr. was initially arrested on April 11 and booked into the Lorain County Jail later that night. He is being held on a $500,000 cash or surety bond. A motion to reduce bond has been filed, along with a separate motion by prosecutors asking the court to consider an appropriate bond based on the severity of the charges.
As of Friday, the case had not yet been assigned to a judge in the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas. No future court dates were listed in the docket.
Both victims were known to have ties to the Lorain area. Published obituaries for each noted surviving family members and personal details, including that Jayzeir Gaddy was expecting a child.
The Lorain Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau.
No other suspects have been identified or charged in connection with the incident.